Box-feeding mechanism for box-wrapping machines.



IVI. E. PETERS, G'. H. FMH (ILA. F.' MILLER. Box F'EEDING MECHANISM FonBox WRAPPING MACHINES.

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M. E. PETERS,` G. H. FATH @L A. F. MILLER. BOX FEE'DING MECHA'NISM FORBOX WRAP'PING MCHNES.

. APPucATmN mso APRza, 1916. 1,229,512..

Patented June 12, 1917.

MELVILLE E. PETERS, GEORGE rr. Earn, AND ALBERT r. MILLER, or DENVER,

COLORADO.

BOX-FEEDING NEECHANISM FOR BOXeWRAPPI'NG MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 12, 1917.,

Application led April 28, 1916. Serial No. 94,207.

To all fr/rom t may concern.' v

Be it known that we, MELVILLE E. PETERs, GEORGE H. FATE, and ALBERT F.MILLER, citizens of the United States of America, residing in the cityand county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented a new anduseful BoXFeeding Mechanism for Box-Wrapping Machines, of which thefollowing is a specification.

Our invention relates to an automatic box feeding mechanism for feedingunwrapped paste board boxes to box wrapping machines; and the objects ofour invention are:

First, To provide a vfeeder for box wrapping machines in which the boxesare placed by an attendant, and which automatically feeds the boxesintermittently in registering relation to the box supporting plunger ofa box wrapping machine. And

Second, To -provide an automatic box feeder that will feed straightsided and extension edge boxes either with or without stayed corners, tothe box supporting plunger of box wrapping machines.

l/Ve attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1, is a side view of a portion of a box wrapping machine, showingthe application thereto of the improved automatic box feeder.

Fig. 2, is a central, vertical, transverse, sectional view through themachine and box feeding mechanism shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3, is a plan view of the box feeding mechanism.

Fig. 11, is a vertical sectional view, enlarged, on the line L -4l ofFig. 3. And

Fig. 5, is an end view of one of the box guide bars, showing the boxstop mounted thereon.

Similar' letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout theseveral views.

Our box feeding mechanism can be arranged to be attached to any boxwrapping machine. We have preferably illustrated it however attached toa fragmentV portion of the box wrapping machine illustrated in ourpending application Serial Number 59,860, filed November 5, 1915.

Referring to the drawings,-'-

Fig. 1 designates our improved box feeding mechanism, and in this viewas well as the other figures of the drawing the numeral 1 designates thebase plate, 2 designates the end frames, 3 the side frames, and 4t a toptable portion of the fragment of lthe wrapping machine above referredto.

Between the side frames a main driving shaft 5 is journal-ed in suitablebearings 6 that are secured to the base plate. This shaft extendslongitudinally of the machine, and is adapted to be connected to androtated by power supplying and transmitting mechanism, which we do notillustrate.

Upon the main shaft 5 we secure a cam 7, having a groove in which lies aroller 8 that is mounted on a yoke or fork end 9, which is bolted to thelower end of a lever 10. The fork end 9 stradles the main shaft 5 andthe upper end of the lever 10 is secured by a bolt to a projection 11adjacent to the lower end of a lever 12. The lower end of this lever ispivotally secured upon a stud secured to a bracket 13, which is boltedto the table. The upper end of this leveris pivotally'connected to oneend of a link 14C, the opposite end of which is pivotally attached to adepending lug 15, that is secured to a slide bar 16 that is reciprocallymounted in a slideway 17 that is formed in a ribbed bar 18 that extendsat right angles to the longitudinal axis of the box wrapping machine andfrom its upper and lower plungers 19 and 20 respectively.

This ribbed barv is supported upon and secured to a cross bar 21 that issecured at one end to a bracket 22 that is bolted to the top of theltable, and is supported by'a bracket 23 at its other end that is boltedto the yoke-shaped frame 24. The ribbed plate is provided with a shot 25through which the lug 15 depends, and the slideway is formed partiallyin each of two opposite upwardly projectingribs that extend along itslength. An adjustable flanged push bar 26 is secured upon the top yofthe slide bar 16, by a bolt 27, which passes through a slot 28 in thepush bar, and is screwed into the slide bar. To the forward end of thepush bar 26, is secured a plate 29, the upper edge of which isbackwardly curved, which permits an attendant to rapidly place the boxeswith accuracy upon the slideway and against the said plate 29 withoutstriking the top edge of it. This box pusher works reciprocally to feeda box-shell, which means a stayed or unstayed corned box ink anunwrapped conv ditiony to the upper' plunger of theV box wrappingmachine, at each cycle of its operative movement, as will be fullykexplained plungers 19 and 20.

The cross bar 21 supportsv at its opposite ends guide bars 30, each ofwhich is 1n tegrally connected to aslide block which is adjustablymounted on the said cross bar, by means of boltsf32, which pass throughthe said Vslide blocks and through slotsy 33 formed in the cross bars.

These guide bars 30 form the side gages for the boxes and they areadjustable to and from Vthe longitudinalY center of the slideway plateand its box pushing bar tolit boxes of varying lengths. They areconsequently adjusted to receive the size of boxes that are to befed totheplunger loosely but snugly between them, and are then bolted intheir' adjusted positions. To facilitatek the rapid and accurate placingof boxes one after the other by an attendant, the guide bars arek eachprovided along their upper edges with a backwardly curved blade 34:,which is secured to each guide bar by any suitable means. These guidebars and the slideway bar, are positioned in such relation to the upperplunger that the reciprocating' box pusher delivers them directly andcentrally under the plunger, andr al stop 35 is adjustably secured on`the inner end of each guide bar against which the box is moved by thepusher bar. Each'stop comprises a yokeshaped member that straddles thetop edge ofthe guide bar, and which present abutments which define theinward movement of the boxes relatively to the plunger's.

The guide bars 3() are each formed with a horizontal ledge 36, whichledges are on the same planev as the upper face of'tlie'slideway bar 18,and form'with the said slideway bar supporting means for the boxes, asAwill be clearly understood by reference to Fig. l. Our box feedingmechanism Vwill feed either plain, straight sided boxes, orextensionedgeboxes,` having either .stayed orun stayed corners, and the guide barsextend along the opposite ends of the` plunger and guide the boxescentrally to it. The'ledges 36 are only slightly longer than the widthof the largest box for which the machine is set; and it is thereforenecessary that means be provided for supporting theYV boxes v'in a`position between` the two plungers, and that suoli supports be capableof beingv auto` matically withdrawn, in order that the boxes may becarried down' with the upper plunger, to rpass betweenthe sidewipers;sup'- ports 'of this character being necessary in the case of extensionedge boxes, where if presplane,`and at righty yangles to and centrallyof the length of the tension ofthe springs is secured on top of and sureupon the boxes were requiredY to spread the supports, the extended edgeswould thereby be broken.

To'this end, we provide each of the guide bars 30 with two integralbrackets 37, the

upper ends of which are pro vided with beari 'A lever 40 ismountedfoneach shaft 38 between'its opposite end 'is 'adjustably other is securedto ther `secured to the slottedend vof aV slotted bar ll by a clampingbolt 42. f

. Each slotted bar is provided at its inner end with a roller 43whichwhen the plunger 19 is at the limit ofits 'upperstrolre bearsagainst itsy adjacent ends, andthe slot allows for adjustment of the'fbarrelative to the length. of described. i f Y f s To "the oppositeend portions of the shafts 38 inside thebearings 37,' leversat1l`are'-secured, the lower ends secured to one of theends `of a pairof links 45, the opposite endsof which are pivotally plunger as'will bepresently securedy to opposite ends of blades 4G, which are reciprocallysupported in slots' "47 formed` through each :of the guide Ybars 30. Therollers 43 bear on oppositeends of the plunger when it is at the limitof Vits up stroke, and the said yrollers are automatically held against:the ends ofthe plunger by the 39. A cam" 'blade 43 at each end oftheupper plungeigand the springs 39'are arranged to exert aitension on thershaft that turns it to cause the'rollers of the bar to bear with aresilient pressure against theopposite-ends ofthe plunger, and as longas the rollers are-fon the plunger the blades are held inward beneaththe bottom of the box, and `thus supporty the'said'boxes. As the plungermoves down it enters theV box and when it gets within about a quarter ofan inch of its inside bottom surface, the rollers 43 'on the bars tlfride ontothe backwardly An' attendantplaces theun'covered boxesone at atimeon the supports formedfby the ledges 3G and the slidew' front of andvagainst the box 'pushing 'blade 29. Then' the 'reciprocatingboxpl'isher blade, `which is tuned by 4theranfand lever of. which arepivotally j ay bar, bet'weeii the side blades 34 and the' guide b'a'rs30,' and in mechanism, moves each box under the upper plunger 19 of thefirst stage treatment station of the box wrapping machine, just as itreaches the limit of the upper stroke of its vertical reciprocatingmovement, and the stops 35 stop each box in its proper position for theupper plunger to enter it when it starts on its down stroke, Which itdoes, and

carries it down against the gummed blank and the top-of the lowerplunger.

Having describedmy invention, what We claim as new and desire to secureby Letters lhitent, is:

1. In an automatic box feeding mechanism, the combination with the boxreceiv ing plunger of a box Wrapping machine, of a box supportingguideway, and means including a cani and rock arm actuated reciprocatingplate for intermittently moving a box along said guideway to saidplunger, and means including adjustable stop and box centering guidesfor guiding each box into the path of said plunger, and means includinga reciprocating and `resilient box supporting lip` mechanism actuated tosupport a box in alinement With said plunger by engagement therewith.

2. In a box feeder for box Wrapping machines, the combination with theplunger, of the box receiving slidevvay, the boxpushing plunger arrangedto reciprocate therein, resilient controlled reciprocal means includingan extension edge supporting shelf for protecting the overhanging edgesof extension edge boxes, and means including box stopping guiding andcentering guides for directing each box into the path of said plunger'.

3. In a box feeder for box Wrapping machines, the combination With theplunger, of the box receiving slideivay, the box pushing plungerarranged to reciprocate therein, and resilient controlled reciprocalmeans including an extension edge supporting shelf for protecting theoverhanging edges of extension edge boxes, said means also including abearing plate on said plunger and an adjustable plunger engaging guidearm and roller arranged to control the reciprocal movements of saidextension edge supporting shelf.

4. In a box feeder for box Wrapping machines, the combination with theplunger, of the box receiving slidevvay, the box pushing plungerarranged to reciprocate therein, and resilient controlled reciprocalmeans including an extension edge supporting shelf for protecting theoverhanging edges of extension edge boxes, said means also includ ing abearing plate on said plunger and an adjustable plunger engaging guidearm and roller arranged to control the reciprocal movements of saidextension edge supporting shelf, and cam actuated means for operatingsaid box pushing plate.

5. In` an automatic box feeding mechanism for box wrapping machines, thecoinbination of the table frame and the upper plunger, with a boxfeeding mechanism comprising a guideway adapted to receive boxes, and abox pushing reciprocal mechanism arranged to deliver' boxes one at atime under said upper plunger, and means including resilient guides forsupporting the box belovvl the plunger and for releasing said box whensaid plunger enters it on the downward stroke of its reciprocalmovement.

6. In an automatic box feeding mechanism for box Wrapping machines, thecombination of the table frame and the upper plunger, With a box feedingmechanism comprising a guideway adapted to receive boxes, a box pushingreciprocal mechanism arranged to deliver boxes one at a time under saidupper plunger', and means including a pair of reciprocating cam andspring controlled blades attached to said guide frame for supporting andfeeding extension edge boxes to said upper plunger.

7. In an automatic box feeding device for box Wrapping machines, thecombination with the table frame, the upper plunger provided With areciprocal movement, of a box receiving guideivay, the guides at theside of said guidevvay for receiving the box, the slideway in saidguidevvay, the crosshead reciprocally mounted in said slideway, providedwith a box pushing blade, the cam actuated rock arm and link mechanismfor operating said mechanism, and means including adjustable box endengaging stops and resilient box supporting side guides arranged tosupport each box in the path of said plunger and to release each boxafter said plunger enters it.

8. In an automatic box feeder for box Wrapping machines, the combinationwith the table frame, the upper plunger, of a box receiving guideway,the guides at the side of said guideway for receiving the box, theslideivay in said guideway, the cross-head reciprocally mounted in saidslideway, provided With a box pushing blade, the cam actuated mechanismfor operating said mechanism, and means including cam blades on saidplunger and an adjustable stroke spring actuated lever and shaftcontrolled extension edge supporting blade for supporting extension edgeboxes as said plunger enters them on its box engaging and feedingstroke.

9. The combination with a box Wrapping machine having a reciprocatingbox receiving plunger, of means for deliverying boxes to a point in thepath of said plunger comprising a support, parallel guidevvays on saidsupport, an automatically operating box pusher on said support,oppositely arranged box supporting ledges mounted in said guidevvays inthe path of said plunger,

and means operated by lthe plunger for withdrawing said ledges after theplunger enters the box.

l0. The combination with a box wrapping Inachine having a reciprocatingplunger, of means for delivering unwrapped boxes to a point in the pathkof the downward movement of said plunger, comprising a support mountedon, said machine, an automatically operatino` box pusher on saidsupport, parallel guide barsadjustably mounted on said support andextending beneath but out of the path of the ends of said plunger,oppositely disposed box supporting ledges lslidably mounted in saidguide 'bars in the path of said plunger, and means operated by saidplunger, for withdrawing said ledgesafter the plunger enters a box. Y

11. The combination with a box wrapping machine having a reciprocatingbox receiving plunger, of means for delivering unwrapped boxes to apoint in the path of the downward movement of said plunger, comprising ahorizontal support on said machine,-parallel guide bars mounted on saidsupport and lateral-ly adjustable with, respect to each other, said barsextending be- Vlow the'plunger but out of the path of its ends,oppositely positioned box supporting ledges slidablymounted in saidguide bars and normallyprojected into the path of said plunger, a boxpusher slidably mounted on said support between said guide bars, a camand lever mechanism for sliding sai-dv pusher to deliver boxes tosaidledges, stops'on said guides to define the movement or saidV boxes,Y

and spring controlled lever mechanism operatedy by said plunger towithdraw said `h ledges afterthe plunger enters a box.

12. The combination with a box wrapping machine having a reciprocatingbox. receiving plunger, of a support secured to said machine, laterallyadjustable parallel horizontal guide bars mounted on saidV support,below the uppermost position yof Vsaid plunger, and Vspaced to permitsaid plunger to pass between them, on its downward moveledges, springs-for normally holding saidl rollers in contact with the ends of theplunf ger, and inclined plates on the upper edges of the ends of saidkplunger in the path of said rollers, whichr permit an inwardy movenientofthe roller carrying arms and the consequent rocking of thev uprightarms,v as the plungerenters the box, whereby the ydepending arms areoperated to withdraw the ledges from beneath the box. 13. The`combination with a box wrapping machine having a reciprocating boxreceiving plunger,-of a guideway extendingv across the path yof saidplunger, opposite box sup:` ports injsaid guideway normally projectedinto the path of the downward movement of said plunger, automaticallyoperating means for delivering boxes to saidsupport, stops for definingthe movement of said boxes,l

and levers operatedl by said plunger on its downward movement forretracting said box supports afiterl the plunger enters they Intestimonywhereof wealix our signatures kin presence-of two witnesses;

MELvILLE rE'rEas. t .GEORGE yEarn.,

ALBERT E. MILLER.

Witnesses:

G'. SARGENT ELLIOTT, ELIZABETH SMITH.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for-inve cents each,tbyaddressing-the Commissioner of- Patents.

4 Washington, D. (3.,V i

